EDIT:  I added the spreadsheet to googledocs.  If you want, you can now access it here, edit it how you would like to see each position filled, and then paste it in the comments below.  (Be sure to preview your post, the comments don't like excel formatting so much)

With the demotion of JJ Hardy, and the DFA of Bill Hall, the Brewers fan base has begun to discuss plans for 2010.  This 20-minute interview with Doug Melvin focuses, in large part, on the upcoming offseason, while this fanpost by sowingwildoats focuses on 2010 lineup construction.  When it comes to transactions and roster-building, money is half of the equation.  Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to think of the big fiscal picture when there are 25-40 different contracts compiled into the payroll.  Cot’s has a nice spreadsheet showing payroll obligations through 2013.  However, it doesn’t count players in arbitration years towards the payroll, leaving it difficult to project how much money will be available in any given offseason.

So I made my own spreadsheet, using information from Cot’s and filling in the gaps with arbitration estimates.  I tried to be conservatively accurate, as I don’t want to overestimate how much money will be available in the offseason.

So here it is:

The last two years, the Brewers have started the season with an $80MM pay roll.  I’m going to assume that this number will rise.  At the beginning of the season, it seemed like management was throwing this team out there, and banking off the idea of adding a player at the deadline if they’re still in it.  I think Mark A. learned his lesson, and will be willing to add some payroll.  Even though I’d like to see a $90MM figure, in my attempt to be conservatively accurate, I’m going to interpolate and assume an $85MM payroll for 2010. 

That gives us roughly $20MM to work with as we enter free agency, with holes at C, CF, 2 SP, and CL.  I think it’s safe to say that either Hardy or Escobar will be moved.  If you’re curious, dealing Hardy would leave us with roughly $25MM (minus whatever contracts we take on) to spend.

So how would you allocate that money?  Who would you like to see us trade for?  Who would you like to see us sign?  What does your 2010 roster look like?

For a comprehensive list of this offseason's free agents, see Cot's